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"Love that Gives True Peace"
By: Jade Lightning, a.k.a. Inuyashas-hanyougirl
Chapter 2: "Strength amidst Uncertainty"

    The evening that Hidama had fallen out of the sky, Zachary alone had the best view of the sky, pin-pointing the landing of the “falling star” to an abandoned sky scraper, deep within the dark streets of the Northern District.  The three hedgehogs led the group into this miserable part of town, where the hearts of all that entered it were bombarded by fear and strife.

    By now, the rain had been reduced to a pesky drizzle, blowing into the eyes and faces of the group as if the droplets were fixated upon them alone.  Zachary and Bill kept towards the front of the group, and Joel followed the fox children and Shadow from behind.  Shadow glanced at Olivia and Jacob from time to time, knowing that this could hardly be a pleasant experience for them.

    This prospect of what motivated them to accompany him on his search for Hinsei Hidama piqued his curiosity.  He slowed down, and walking in between them, one arm around both of them, he spoke.  “I’ll try and warm you both…this is simply miserable weather.”  After a pause, he continued.  “I’m sure my reasons for pursuing Hidama are well known…but you two…I must ask…look where you have been brought to, such a miserable and painful road this must be, and I ask, what has motivated you to come seeking Hidama with me, when this obviously is not in your hands?”

    Jacob and Olivia exchanged glances, and then, looking to Shadow, Jacob replied, “He called us the captains of the guardian, and while he isn’t the actual guardian, nor we his actual guards, we feel the need to rescue him like any good captains would.”

    Olivia looked, and seeing that Shadow wasn’t satisfied with this answer, said, “Well, I know why I came and Jacob too.  When we first arrived in awful prison, Hidama was our only companion, and he made things a lot less frightening.  In the beginning, he was always so brave, and trying to stay positive, when inside I’m sure his soul was weeping.  In short, he was always there for us, and now we wanna be there for him.”

    Shadow’s heart was moved by their words, that they would go through so much trouble just to be there for a friend.  He admired their compassion and love for Hidama, and replied, “He’s lucky to have such loving friends like you.  He was your strength when things got rocky, and now it seems you play that role for him in his time of uncertainty.  I’m sure he will be overjoyed to see you two again…,” he paused, then continued, “And even more sure am I that he’ll be ecstatic to see his brother again.”  Exchanging a smile with the fox children, he looked ahead to Zachary and Bill.  Walking up to them, he put a hand on Bill’s shoulder and said, “We must hurry my friend.  Every moment that goes by I fear for Hidama’s safety.  Let us hurry please.”

    Bill looked to Shadow and nodded.  In response, Zachary ran a few paces ahead, to the end of the street they were walking where they met a dead end.  Once the remainder of the group caught up with him, Zachary turned to them looking to Shadow and saying, “The abandoned sky scraper is on the other end of that alleyway over there,” he started.  He pointed over to a pitch black, narrow side street between two tall buildings.  Olivia shivered at the site, with her brother wrapping his arms around her to comfort her.  Shadow glanced at them and knowing that as eager as the children were to help, all of this was becoming too much to handle.

    Looking to Zac, he said, “If we must take this route let’s go on with it.  I don’t think the fox children can take much more of this bitter rain and damp.”  Zachary looked to them, then Shadow and nodded quickly, taking Shadow by the arm and pulling him into the darkness of the alley.

    Startled by this, Jacob started to chase after him, but was held back by Bill, who had also taken hold of Olivia while Joel chased after Zac and Shadow.  Bill looked to them and said, “No.  Jacob, Olivia, we’re gonna wait here until they return, just incase there’s any trouble.”

    Jacob, who was normally calm and slow to anger, was struck by disbelief at what he had heard.  His eyes flashed, and from a low growl, he shouted in an intense low voice, “I can’t believe this!  We’ve come all this way and now we’re being treated like nothing but extra baggage!  I can’t just stand here when Hidama needs my help…I can’t!  I won’t!”  The fox boy tried in vain to tear away from Bill.

    Bill was a great deal larger than Jacob, if not so much in height as he was in strength, and letting go of Olivia, he wrestled Jacob into his control.  The fox boy wouldn’t relent; he kicked and fought to get away from Bill, his love and concern for Hidama in control of all he did.  Olivia cried for Jacob to calm down, while Bill tried his hardest to keep his hold on Jacob without hurting either of them.  Finally, Jacob stopped struggling, practically going limp and bursting into tears.  As Bill held him up and his sister hugged him, he said, “I’m sorry, it’s just…I—love him so much, like an older brother and well…I don’t know what I’d do if anything terrible happened to them.”  Standing up and wiping the tears from his eyes, he hugged his sister, pulled away from her, and turning to the back alley, he said, “Please hurry Shadow…Hidama needs you…please.”

    Already, the group of three hedgehogs were at the other end of the alleyway, with the abandoned skyscraper looming over them.  Zachary looked at Joel and Shadow; when Shadow returned his gaze, Zachary nodded towards the roof of the building and said, “Up there, that’s where the falling star—I mean, Hidama landed a few months ago.  Depending on how hard he landed he should still be near the top floor.”

    Shadow took a few steps toward the building, lowered his head and laughed softly.  He said, “While his fall looked like a falling star, I can assure you his landing was most graceful.  Indeed, if he had had any sort of an impact, you would have almost certainly seen a cloud of dust and debris form in the air afterwards, and an audible impact crash would have been heard as well.  No, when Hinsei Hidama, son of the guardian, fell out of the sky, his subconscious chose this spot for him to land, and so he did, but in a way I cannot explain for you here.  Needless to say, these past few months might have been enough time for him to regenerate, so, we should find him in this recuperative slumber, and not awake him, for no doubt he’ll awaken soon.”

    Zachary and Joel merely nodded in response, and immediately ran with Shadow into the abandoned building.  It was abandoned for a good reason; the wallpaper was peeling off the walls, as was any paint, the floorboards were creaky and loose, and some would break under the pressure of the hedgehogs’ footfalls.  It didn’t take long, however, for the three to find the decaying staircase that would lead to the upper floors.  Shadow had no fear of them breaking, and took up them at a quickened walk, while Zachary and Joel, devoid of the power that Shadow had, slowed to a steady, cautious climb up the stairs.

    Shadow got to the fifth floor very quickly, and stopped fast, right before taking the first step towards the sixth and last floor.  He closed his eyes and breathed deeply; he could feel Hidama’s presence nearby.  The air around him smelled of Hidama’s scent, one he knew well after spending four months imprisoned with him.  Shadow was sure of it; he knew Hidama was somewhere on the fifth floor.  He opened his eyes, and exhaling slowly, he whispered, “I’m almost there Hidama…where are you lying?  Show me…please, son of the guardian.”

    He paused, closing his eyes once more, and inhaled and exhaled deeply once more.  He paused long enough for Joel and Zac to catch up to him.  They stood silent and still, waiting for Shadow to make a move, and finally, after a few brief moments, he opened his eyes, and looking to the two behind him, he whispered, “Down that hall, the last room on the right…he’ll be there.”  Shadow nodded towards a hallway of rooms on their left.  This hallway had once held residential apartments before an infestation of mold, bugs, and improper maintenance had the place shut down.  It was a lowly place for Hidama, the son of the guardian, brother of Knuckles, and such a powerful, loving creature, to lay himself down to rest, after nearly losing his own life in sacrifice to save his brother’s, and at thinking of this, Zachary and Joel shivered.

    The two followed Shadow down the hall, they went at a slow pace, as if marching in a vigil, until they made it to the end of the hall.  Zachary and Joel walked close by each other, as rats ran up and down the hall, spiders spun their webs, and it got increasingly darker, danker, and filled their hearts with even more fear and dread.  Shadow, however, walked without fear, quite comfortable in and with the dark, but sensing their fear, he took the green chaos emerald, and from it a light grew, and it expelled not only the darkness, but the cloud of dread that seemed to hung over them as they stood there.

    Shadow whispered, “I didn’t expect you to follow me this far, now you see why I left the fox children behind…this would almost certainly be unbearable for them, as it seems even for you to some degree.  Not much longer though, for Hidama is right behind this door.”  Falling silent and not waiting for a response, Shadow kicked down the door, shattering it in one blow, and disappeared into the room, only the light of his chaos emerald immediately visible.

    After the initial shock at Shadow kicking the door down, Joel and Zachary turned and ran into the room after them.  What they saw shocked them, bringing Joel to his knees and Zachary to tears.  They had never met Hidama before, and this was certainly a moving way for them to first see him.  Before them, Shadow stood on bended knee, holding both chaos emeralds, both dark, close to his chest, the light in the room radiating from the light surrounding the fallen guardian.  Hidama, despite his terrible surroundings, looked peaceful; he appeared suspended in an angelic dream, as he floated, lying straight, only a foot above the ground, as if sleeping in an invisible, glass casket.  His cape and shoes, which before had been torn, weather worn, and blood-stained, were unexplainably fresh and new looking, his cape draped slightly over his arms.

    His fur was clean and vividly crimson, the color of health returning to his face…it was as if he had been whisked away to some celestial healing ground, and reborn anew, sent afterwards to this horrible place to heal his nearly lost soul.  What was even more unexplainable was the origin of the light that surrounded him as he floated gracefully in midair.  It provided the only light in the darkness, but unlike artificial light, or even the light of the chaos emerald, it was a healing light, and for those around him, Joel and Zachary namely, they no longer felt fear or dread, and felt now happiness and hope.  It was this light, a silvery white glow that enveloped and cradled Hidama, and a gold, amber light, that flew into him, healing him on the inside, as he was already recognizably healed on the outside.

    After a few moments of silent reverence, Shadow stood up, and whispered, “I think it’s almost time he awakened.”  Turning to Joel and Zachary, he said, “Go, bring Bill and the fox children here, and quickly.  Do not fear, for as I’m sure you felt, this same power that is healing Hidama, shall renew their own souls.  Now go, do not keep them waiting any longer.”

    Zachary and Joel quickly nodded and ran out of the room, back to get the others.  Shadow turned back to Hidama, and now that he was alone, Shadow walked right up to Hidama, looking intently at Hidama’s face.  Hidama truly did look like all the years of pain and torment had been erased, and yet he knew their memory could not be.  He knew that no matter the healing, Hidama’s heart would always retain scars from these tragedies.  Shadow sighed and said, “Oh my dear Hidama…I can’t give you what you need.  That, I think, is something only your brother can give.  It’s almost time for you to be reunited at last…but rest a little longer until then.  We’ve got a long journey ahead of us.”

    He fell silent as he heard the fox children crying for Hidama.  He turned around, only to see Jacob and Olivia in the doorway.  He was unsure of how they’d react, and stood silently as they walked up to him, and the three band members stood silent in the doorway.  When the fox children got to him, Jacob stared at Hidama as tears formed in his eyes.  Shadow knelt down, and out of kindness, pulled them into a tight hug, whispering, “He’s going to be alright, I promise…he’ll be glad to see you when he wakes…very soon.”

    As both children now cried, hugging Shadow in return, Olivia whispered, “Hidama…oh Hidama…I’m just glad you’re alive…and I’m sure your brother is too.”

    Little did Olivia know that her words, were more prophetic than she knew, as miles away on Angel Island, before he went to sleep, Knuckles prayed a prayer for his brother, pleading with whoever would listen, to return Hidama to him safe and secure.  That just could not come soon enough.

Description
"Love that Gives True Peace"
By: Jade Lightning, a.k.a. Inuyashas-hanyougirl
Chapter 2: "Strength amidst Uncertainty"

    The evening that Hidama had fallen out of the sky, Zachary alone had the best view of the sky, pin-pointing the landing of the “falling star” to an abandoned sky scraper, deep within the dark streets of the Northern District.  The three hedgehogs led the group into this miserable part of town, where the hearts of all that entered it were bombarded by fear and strife.

    By now, the rain had been reduced to a pesky drizzle, blowing into the eyes and faces of the group as if the droplets were fixated upon them alone.  Zachary and Bill kept towards the front of the group, and Joel followed the fox children and Shadow from behind.  Shadow glanced at Olivia and Jacob from time to time, knowing that this could hardly be a pleasant experience for them.

    This prospect of what motivated them to accompany him on his search for Hinsei Hidama piqued his curiosity.  He slowed down, and walking in between them, one arm around both of them, he spoke.  “I’ll try and warm you both…this is simply miserable weather.”  After a pause, he continued.  “I’m sure my reasons for pursuing Hidama are well known…but you two…I must ask…look where you have been brought to, such a miserable and painful road this must be, and I ask, what has motivated you to come seeking Hidama with me, when this obviously is not in your hands?”

    Jacob and Olivia exchanged glances, and then, looking to Shadow, Jacob replied, “He called us the captains of the guardian, and while he isn’t the actual guardian, nor we his actual guards, we feel the need to rescue him like any good captains would.”

    Olivia looked, and seeing that Shadow wasn’t satisfied with this answer, said, “Well, I know why I came and Jacob too.  When we first arrived in awful prison, Hidama was our only companion, and he made things a lot less frightening.  In the beginning, he was always so brave, and trying to stay positive, when inside I’m sure his soul was weeping.  In short, he was always there for us, and now we wanna be there for him.”

    Shadow’s heart was moved by their words, that they would go through so much trouble just to be there for a friend.  He admired their compassion and love for Hidama, and replied, “He’s lucky to have such loving friends like you.  He was your strength when things got rocky, and now it seems you play that role for him in his time of uncertainty.  I’m sure he will be overjoyed to see you two again…,” he paused, then continued, “And even more sure am I that he’ll be ecstatic to see his brother again.”  Exchanging a smile with the fox children, he looked ahead to Zachary and Bill.  Walking up to them, he put a hand on Bill’s shoulder and said, “We must hurry my friend.  Every moment that goes by I fear for Hidama’s safety.  Let us hurry please.”

    Bill looked to Shadow and nodded.  In response, Zachary ran a few paces ahead, to the end of the street they were walking where they met a dead end.  Once the remainder of the group caught up with him, Zachary turned to them looking to Shadow and saying, “The abandoned sky scraper is on the other end of that alleyway over there,” he started.  He pointed over to a pitch black, narrow side street between two tall buildings.  Olivia shivered at the site, with her brother wrapping his arms around her to comfort her.  Shadow glanced at them and knowing that as eager as the children were to help, all of this was becoming too much to handle.

    Looking to Zac, he said, “If we must take this route let’s go on with it.  I don’t think the fox children can take much more of this bitter rain and damp.”  Zachary looked to them, then Shadow and nodded quickly, taking Shadow by the arm and pulling him into the darkness of the alley.

    Startled by this, Jacob started to chase after him, but was held back by Bill, who had also taken hold of Olivia while Joel chased after Zac and Shadow.  Bill looked to them and said, “No.  Jacob, Olivia, we’re gonna wait here until they return, just incase there’s any trouble.”

    Jacob, who was normally calm and slow to anger, was struck by disbelief at what he had heard.  His eyes flashed, and from a low growl, he shouted in an intense low voice, “I can’t believe this!  We’ve come all this way and now we’re being treated like nothing but extra baggage!  I can’t just stand here when Hidama needs my help…I can’t!  I won’t!”  The fox boy tried in vain to tear away from Bill.

    Bill was a great deal larger than Jacob, if not so much in height as he was in strength, and letting go of Olivia, he wrestled Jacob into his control.  The fox boy wouldn’t relent; he kicked and fought to get away from Bill, his love and concern for Hidama in control of all he did.  Olivia cried for Jacob to calm down, while Bill tried his hardest to keep his hold on Jacob without hurting either of them.  Finally, Jacob stopped struggling, practically going limp and bursting into tears.  As Bill held him up and his sister hugged him, he said, “I’m sorry, it’s just…I—love him so much, like an older brother and well…I don’t know what I’d do if anything terrible happened to them.”  Standing up and wiping the tears from his eyes, he hugged his sister, pulled away from her, and turning to the back alley, he said, “Please hurry Shadow…Hidama needs you…please.”

    Already, the group of three hedgehogs were at the other end of the alleyway, with the abandoned skyscraper looming over them.  Zachary looked at Joel and Shadow; when Shadow returned his gaze, Zachary nodded towards the roof of the building and said, “Up there, that’s where the falling star—I mean, Hidama landed a few months ago.  Depending on how hard he landed he should still be near the top floor.”

    Shadow took a few steps toward the building, lowered his head and laughed softly.  He said, “While his fall looked like a falling star, I can assure you his landing was most graceful.  Indeed, if he had had any sort of an impact, you would have almost certainly seen a cloud of dust and debris form in the air afterwards, and an audible impact crash would have been heard as well.  No, when Hinsei Hidama, son of the guardian, fell out of the sky, his subconscious chose this spot for him to land, and so he did, but in a way I cannot explain for you here.  Needless to say, these past few months might have been enough time for him to regenerate, so, we should find him in this recuperative slumber, and not awake him, for no doubt he’ll awaken soon.”

    Zachary and Joel merely nodded in response, and immediately ran with Shadow into the abandoned building.  It was abandoned for a good reason; the wallpaper was peeling off the walls, as was any paint, the floorboards were creaky and loose, and some would break under the pressure of the hedgehogs’ footfalls.  It didn’t take long, however, for the three to find the decaying staircase that would lead to the upper floors.  Shadow had no fear of them breaking, and took up them at a quickened walk, while Zachary and Joel, devoid of the power that Shadow had, slowed to a steady, cautious climb up the stairs.

    Shadow got to the fifth floor very quickly, and stopped fast, right before taking the first step towards the sixth and last floor.  He closed his eyes and breathed deeply; he could feel Hidama’s presence nearby.  The air around him smelled of Hidama’s scent, one he knew well after spending four months imprisoned with him.  Shadow was sure of it; he knew Hidama was somewhere on the fifth floor.  He opened his eyes, and exhaling slowly, he whispered, “I’m almost there Hidama…where are you lying?  Show me…please, son of the guardian.”

    He paused, closing his eyes once more, and inhaled and exhaled deeply once more.  He paused long enough for Joel and Zac to catch up to him.  They stood silent and still, waiting for Shadow to make a move, and finally, after a few brief moments, he opened his eyes, and looking to the two behind him, he whispered, “Down that hall, the last room on the right…he’ll be there.”  Shadow nodded towards a hallway of rooms on their left.  This hallway had once held residential apartments before an infestation of mold, bugs, and improper maintenance had the place shut down.  It was a lowly place for Hidama, the son of the guardian, brother of Knuckles, and such a powerful, loving creature, to lay himself down to rest, after nearly losing his own life in sacrifice to save his brother’s, and at thinking of this, Zachary and Joel shivered.

    The two followed Shadow down the hall, they went at a slow pace, as if marching in a vigil, until they made it to the end of the hall.  Zachary and Joel walked close by each other, as rats ran up and down the hall, spiders spun their webs, and it got increasingly darker, danker, and filled their hearts with even more fear and dread.  Shadow, however, walked without fear, quite comfortable in and with the dark, but sensing their fear, he took the green chaos emerald, and from it a light grew, and it expelled not only the darkness, but the cloud of dread that seemed to hung over them as they stood there.

    Shadow whispered, “I didn’t expect you to follow me this far, now you see why I left the fox children behind…this would almost certainly be unbearable for them, as it seems even for you to some degree.  Not much longer though, for Hidama is right behind this door.”  Falling silent and not waiting for a response, Shadow kicked down the door, shattering it in one blow, and disappeared into the room, only the light of his chaos emerald immediately visible.

    After the initial shock at Shadow kicking the door down, Joel and Zachary turned and ran into the room after them.  What they saw shocked them, bringing Joel to his knees and Zachary to tears.  They had never met Hidama before, and this was certainly a moving way for them to first see him.  Before them, Shadow stood on bended knee, holding both chaos emeralds, both dark, close to his chest, the light in the room radiating from the light surrounding the fallen guardian.  Hidama, despite his terrible surroundings, looked peaceful; he appeared suspended in an angelic dream, as he floated, lying straight, only a foot above the ground, as if sleeping in an invisible, glass casket.  His cape and shoes, which before had been torn, weather worn, and blood-stained, were unexplainably fresh and new looking, his cape draped slightly over his arms.

    His fur was clean and vividly crimson, the color of health returning to his face…it was as if he had been whisked away to some celestial healing ground, and reborn anew, sent afterwards to this horrible place to heal his nearly lost soul.  What was even more unexplainable was the origin of the light that surrounded him as he floated gracefully in midair.  It provided the only light in the darkness, but unlike artificial light, or even the light of the chaos emerald, it was a healing light, and for those around him, Joel and Zachary namely, they no longer felt fear or dread, and felt now happiness and hope.  It was this light, a silvery white glow that enveloped and cradled Hidama, and a gold, amber light, that flew into him, healing him on the inside, as he was already recognizably healed on the outside.

    After a few moments of silent reverence, Shadow stood up, and whispered, “I think it’s almost time he awakened.”  Turning to Joel and Zachary, he said, “Go, bring Bill and the fox children here, and quickly.  Do not fear, for as I’m sure you felt, this same power that is healing Hidama, shall renew their own souls.  Now go, do not keep them waiting any longer.”

    Zachary and Joel quickly nodded and ran out of the room, back to get the others.  Shadow turned back to Hidama, and now that he was alone, Shadow walked right up to Hidama, looking intently at Hidama’s face.  Hidama truly did look like all the years of pain and torment had been erased, and yet he knew their memory could not be.  He knew that no matter the healing, Hidama’s heart would always retain scars from these tragedies.  Shadow sighed and said, “Oh my dear Hidama…I can’t give you what you need.  That, I think, is something only your brother can give.  It’s almost time for you to be reunited at last…but rest a little longer until then.  We’ve got a long journey ahead of us.”

    He fell silent as he heard the fox children crying for Hidama.  He turned around, only to see Jacob and Olivia in the doorway.  He was unsure of how they’d react, and stood silently as they walked up to him, and the three band members stood silent in the doorway.  When the fox children got to him, Jacob stared at Hidama as tears formed in his eyes.  Shadow knelt down, and out of kindness, pulled them into a tight hug, whispering, “He’s going to be alright, I promise…he’ll be glad to see you when he wakes…very soon.”

    As both children now cried, hugging Shadow in return, Olivia whispered, “Hidama…oh Hidama…I’m just glad you’re alive…and I’m sure your brother is too.”

    Little did Olivia know that her words, were more prophetic than she knew, as miles away on Angel Island, before he went to sleep, Knuckles prayed a prayer for his brother, pleading with whoever would listen, to return Hidama to him safe and secure.  That just could not come soon enough.